Watch: A jubilant Indian Women’s cricket team mobbed a delighted Smriti Mandhana after she became the first-ever player to be bought in the Women’s Premier League auction on Monday.

The Indian team, currently in South Africa for the Women’s T20 World Cup, were left ecstatic after Mandhana fetched a huge bid to become the first player to be signed in the WPL. Mandhana, who did not play in India’s clash with Pakistan on Sunday due to an injury, was the first cricketer to go under the hammer, with her teammates screaming in happiness as Mumbai Indians became the first team to bid for her.

Screams and hooting continued throughout the bidding process with her teammates shouting “badhao badhao” [increase the bidding amount] at the TV screens as an intense bidding war broke out between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. Cheers followed when Mandhana crossed the INR 3 crore mark, and once again when she was finally sold to RCB for INR 3.4 crore, nearly seven times her base amount, and more than 25 per cent of RCB’s overall budget.

Mandhana got up to embrace her ecstatic teammates after her bidding was over and was also seen hugging her India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who was the second player to be auctioned. Kaur was bought by Mumbai for INR 1.8 crore.

The much-awaited WPL will kickstart in the first week of March in Mumbai.

Watch the celebrations as Mandhana becomes the first-ever player to be signed in the WPL here: